Stiltsville

Back in the 1930s, “Crawfish Eddie Walker” built the first house to sell bait, beer and chowder. Others soon followed—and opened up as exclusive clubs and hideaways.

Over the years, the shacks acquired notorious fame for the supposed debauchery that went on in them. In 1949, the Quarterdeck Club was raided for illegal gambling, though no evidence was found. In the 1960s, the Bikini Club offered free drinks (without having a liquor license, of course) to women dressed in the two-piece suits.

At that time, Stiltsville had 27 houses—the most, ever. But over the years, hurricanes, fires and weather destroyed the structures.

Today, the National Parks Service owns the remaining seven buildings. (None of which existed since Stiltsville’s founding.) And no one lives there; their future usage is being debated. Some ideas are community centers, artist residences, research facilities, satellite NPS offices. In the meantime, people are granted access to the houses, on occasion—I actually learned of Stiltsville from West Elm, who shot their catalog there!

…and if they ever decide to open them up as vacation rentals, you know I’ll be down there soon after!